ATF: $20K reward in Lancaster County dynamite theft

Federal authorities now are offering a reward of $20,000 — double the initial reward — for information that helps identify the person or people who stole more than 700 pounds of high explosives from a Lancaster County work site.

Someone stole 704 pounds of dynamite and 400 blasting caps from a pipeline work site in Marietta sometime between Friday, April 13, and Monday, April 16, according to Charlene Hennessy, spokeswoman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The general contractor working at the site reported the theft Monday, Hennessy said.

The explosives had been stored in a locked truck trailer, but when workers showed up Monday they saw the trailer door was ajar and its locks were missing, she said.

The theft — and possession — of stolen explosives is a federal crime punishable by up to a decade in federal prison, according to Hennessy, who said the ATF and state police are investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to call the ATF hotline at 888-ATF-BOMB (888-283-2662), or submit tips at www.reportit.com. All tips will be kept confidential, Hennessy said.

— Reach Liz Evans Scolforo at levans@yorkdispatch.com or on Twitter at @LizScolforoYD.